Content Amplification System and Method

2. The sharing system of claim 1 wherein the system processor is also programed to control each indicator to indicate a second state different than the first state in response to a portable computing device associated with the station subarea that is associated with the indicator being used to share content on the at least a first emissive surface.

3. The sharing system of claim 2 wherein each indicator is a light device that is capable of indicating at least the first and second visually distinct states.

4. The sharing system of claim 1 wherein the system processor establishes a data communication link with each portable computing device that is associated with one of the station subareas for receiving content from those devices that is to be shared within the conference space.

5. The sharing system of claim 4 wherein each portable computing device includes a display and each portable computing device that is associated with one of the station subareas automatically presents an interface via the device display usable by a conferee to share content from the portable computing device on the at least a first emissive surface.

6. The sharing system of claim 5 wherein each interface includes a content sharing tool including at least a first virtual button on an associated portable computing device where the button is selectable to cause a current desktop image presented on a display screen of the portable computing device to be replicated in a sharing space on the at least a first emissive surface.

7. The sharing system of claim 1 further including a sensor for sensing proximity of portable computing devices to each of the station subareas as well as a wireless communication component, the system processor linked to each of the wireless communication component and the sensor, the processor further programmed to determine when a portable computing device is located in a zone associated with one of the station subareas, to associate the portable computing device with the station subarea and associated indicator device when in a zone associated with a station subarea and to establish a wireless link to the portable communication device for data transfer when content from the portable computing device is shared on the at least a first common emissive surface.

8. The sharing system of claim 7 wherein each portable computing device includes a display and each portable computing device that is associated with one of the station subareas automatically presents an interface via the device display usable by a conferee to share content from the portable computing device on the at least a first emissive surface.

9. The sharing system of claim 1 further including a plurality of data ports linked to the system processor, the ports including a separate data port associated with each of the station subareas, a port associated with a subarea located proximate the associated subarea and integrated into the tabletop member, monitoring for association of a portable computing device with any one of the station subareas including detecting if any portable computing device is mechanically coupled to a port associated with a subarea.

10. The sharing system of claim 9 wherein at least one system processor is programmed to, upon coupling of a portable computing device to one of the data ports, provide a content sharing interface via the display screen of the portable computing device with a button that is selectable to share content from the portable computing device via the at least a first emissive surface.

11. The sharing system of claim 1 wherein each indicator is integrated into the tabletop member.

12. The sharing system of claim 11 wherein each station subarea includes a space on the tabletop surface adjacent an edge of the tabletop surface and wherein an indicator associated with a station subarea is located on aside of the subarea opposite the tabletop edge.

13. The sharing system of claim 1 wherein each indicator is viewable from most locations along the circumferential edge of the tabletop member.

14. The sharing system of claim 2 wherein the system processor is further programmed to, in response to two portable computing devices sharing content on the at least a first emissive surface simultaneously, controlling associated indicators to generate a different color light for each of the sharing portable computing devices.

15. The sharing system of claim 1 wherein, in response to a portable computing device sharing content on the at least a first emissive surface, the system processor causes the indicator associated with the station subarea that is associated with the sharing portable computing device to generate a first visual effect and also presents an indicator on the at least a first emissive surface that has the same appearance as the first visual effect where the indicator on the first emissive surface is spatially associated with the shared content.

17. The sharing system of claim 16 wherein each interface includes a content sharing tool including at least a first virtual button on an associated portable computing device where the button is selectable to cause a current desktop image presented on a display screen of the portable computing device to be replicated in a sharing space on the at least a first emissive surface.

18. The sharing system of claim 16 further including a sensor for sensing proximity of portable computing devices to each of the station subareas as well as a wireless communication component, the system processor linked to each of the wireless communication component and the sensor, the processor further programmed to determine when a portable computing device is located in a zone associated with one of the station subareas, to associate the portable computing device with the station subarea when in a zone associated with a station subarea and to establish a wireless link to the portable communication device for data transfer when content from the portable computing device is shared on the at least a first common emissive surface.

19. The sharing system of claim 1 further including a plurality of data ports linked to the system processor, the ports including a separate data port associated with each of the station subareas, a port associated with a subarea located proximate the associated subarea and integrated into the tabletop member, monitoring for association of a portable computing device with any one of the station subareas including detecting if any portable computing device is mechanically coupled to a port associated with a subarea.